Militia groups urge members not to join standoff at Malheur refuge: ‘Cooler heads must prevail’

The remaining militants at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge won’t be getting any help from the Pacific Patriot Network — which includes members of the Oathkeepers and the III Percent militia groups.

Authorities arrested seven militants Tuesday evening in Oregon, near the nature preserve they occupied for more than three weeks, and an eighth militant surrendered after returning home to Arizona for a brief reunion with his family.

One of the militants, LaVoy Finicum, was shot and killed by officers during a traffic stop, and witnesses say the rancher jumped out of a crashed pickup and charged toward police.

Some of the Bundy militants and their supporters have claimed Finicum had surrendered before he was shot, and they’re urging like-minded “patriots” to join the handful of militants who chose to stay at the wildlife refuge.

“We will not pursue any action until all of the facts have been pieced together regarding the traffic stop and the arrest of Ammon Bundy,” the group said in a statement. “During this time, cooler heads must prevail. We do not wish to inflame the current situation and will engage in open dialogue until all of the facts have been gathered.”

Ammon Bundy, the militant leader who was arrested Tuesday, sent members of the Pacific Patriot Network away from the occupation about two weeks ago to avoid inflaming the confrontation with authorities.

Witnesses and reporters in the area say all the women and children left the refuge before a deadline set by the FBI to surrender, although one pregnant woman reportedly stayed behind with a small group of armed militants.

the fbi has surrounded all roads to the refuge — meaning a handful of militants and media are inside. 1/3